Welcome to The Abso!ute Sound online! We
explore music and the reproduction of music in the home. We believe that the sound of music, unamplified, occurring in a real space is a philosophic absolute against which we may judge the performance of devices designed to reproduce music. Our goal is to provide the resources consumers need to judge how a component's sound either honors or departs from the music's truth, and to make sound purchasing decisions that maximize their experience of reproduced sound. Below is our
Issue 192, April / May 2009 contents and editorial.

12
Start Me UpParadigm
Monitor 9 LoudspeakerNeil
Gader discovers a floorstander with all the right moves. And it's priced under
$1k!

76
Muse Model Two Hundred Integrated Amp

Neil
Gader on a genuinely superb amp from Muse's Kevin Halverson.

80
Synergistic Research Tesla PowerCell 10 SE AC Conditioner

Jacob
Heilbrunn on a reference-grade power conditioner from Synergistic.

82
Pass Labs XP20 Preamplifier and XA160.5 Power Amplifier

Anthony
H. Cordesman on this ultimate statement in preamplifier and amplifier design.

PlusNelson
Pass discusses his four decades of making world-class electronics.

100
HP's Workshop

HP
revisits the updated Scaena loudspeaker.

Music110
Feature: Mastodon Interview and Album ReviewBob
Gendron talks with Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor about the band's stunning new
concept record Crack
the Skye
and working with mega-producer Brendan O'Brien. And a review of Crack
the Skye,
the Rock Recording of the Issue.

Keith
Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette's Yesterdays
is the Jazz Recording of the Issue. Plus, the scoop on Jeff "Tain" Watts' Wattsand
ORG's audiophile LP pressing of John Coltrane's Live
at the Village Vanguard.